white eye-spot of adult a good field mark (California; 2006-08-13)


Cassin's Auklet
Ptychoramphus aleuticus

Native Range: North America

Notes: a small dark alcid that nests in excavated burrows and crevices on islands off California and British Columbia; forages by surface-diving at sea; unlike many other alcids, lacks a distinctive breeding plumage.

often glimpsed flying away from approaching boat (California; 2006-08-13)
note the webbed feet(California; 2011-12-13)